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West Coast Eagles and Nic Naitanui eye Collingwood scalp

Brad Elborough

Nic Naitanui, seen here contesting possession with Toby Greene of GWS, says that the Eagles now have the confidence to beat the Pies. Photo: Getty Images

West Coast is looking at Saturday’s clash with Collingwood as its chance to finally grab a big scalp.

And a fit Nic Naitanui could be what the Eagles need to break their reputation of being “flat track bullies” by beating a finals contender, away from Patersons Stadium.

The 2012 All-Australian ruckman has continually copped criticism over the first eight rounds of this season for not being as productive as in previous years.

But he says he is progressing as he expected to and is ready to go after the bye.

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“Yeah, a lot has been written, but I was well aware of what to expect coming into the year,” Naitanui, who is in contract negotiations, said.

“Obviously, with contract talk as well, it [criticism] was going to build to that as well. For me, my expectation was no greater than what it had been leading into round one. For me it was about getting it right knowing I had a limited pre-season.

“And I am feeling better as the weeks are going on. I'm happy with where I am going and how I am progressing.”

Naitanui missed most of the pre-season due to groin problems and then had issues with an Achilles during the opening rounds.

He is averaging only10.9 touches this season and 14.8 hit-outs and has kicked just 2.3 in the opening eight games. Those figures are well below his averages from recent years but he said he is building on his fitness.

“I am the best I have been this season,” he said at the Lynwood/Ferndale Football Club while attending an AFL Multi-cultural Gala Day.

“Coming up now I have had that building block and throughout the weeks at training and even through the games earlier in the year, I had limited game time - whether that meant 70 or 80 minutes compared to 100 minutes as most boys play. It is all getting managed pretty closely.

“So, I am coming up to my best footy again coming into this next block.”

Naitanui continued to train during the club’s break.

He is scheduled to play his 100th game in round 13 against the Gold Coast and amounts of around $1 million a year have been talked about in the same breath as his contract negotiations.

But he said that his pending new contract had nothing to do with his form in the opening eight rounds.

“We spoke about that at the end of last year knowing I would be out of contract this year,” he said.

“It was always going to get done, it was just a matter of when and I guess what time it was going to get done.

“So, no distraction at all. It's just, for me, it's been getting to know the new coach and a new game plan - and getting my ahead around that.”

It seems his teammates have needed that time to come to terms with a new style of play also.

The Eagles four wins have come against the Western Bulldogs (65 points), Melbourne (95), St Kilda (25) and finally GWS by 111 points at Patersons Stadium in their last game.

But the club has been criticised for its inability to beat a better credentialed side, with losses to Geelong, Port Adelaide, Carlton and Fremantle.

But Naitanui says that the club now has the confidence to beat the Pies and end that talk.

“Simmo [Adam Simpson] has spoken over the last couple of weeks that we need a scalp. We need to take a big team down and what better way to get that started than against Collingwood over there,” he said.

“So, to build a bit more confidence in the team, I guess seeing JK [Josh Kennedy] last week kick 11 [goals] has the boys up and going again.

“We're in for a big challenge. We are coming off beating GWS and we paid them a lot of respect but at the same time we know Collingwood is at another level; especially over there.

“It is something we have had at the back of our minds over the bye - is not to take it too relaxing over the last four or five days and just get ready for those guys.

“But we want a bigger scalp and we want to beat one of the Victorian teams over there.

“Collingwood is just the next in line.”

9 comments so far

How many times has Naitanui featured in an article so far this year (with an accompanying photo) say compared to Captain Darren Glass or wonder boy Jack Darling? You would think Naitanui is playing his 300th game this year or going for back to back Brownlows.

Commenter

Peter

Date and time

May 19, 2014, 2:56PM

Yeah, funny how they are putting so many expectations upon him .... articles, pictures, $1M talk, discussions on mentoring programs/community assistance. If he comes out of it with some better stats soon, it will just go to show how well managed/balanced a potential marque player needs to be these days and still perform, (considering the rise of the haters- or at least the availability of hating forums). The others mentioned must be deemed to be too 'past it' or not of the right personality to warrant such attention but Pav had his days in the limelight and still receives plenty of TV spots too BTW. Perhaps they simply don't WANT to be written about?! I guess the media just want him to perform as he has shown he can and light up a run of play. Saw him put pressure on no less that 6 players as they fiddled around wondering how to get away 2 weeks back, but if that sort of determination can not sway you out of jealousy, then you can just go on dreaming of finding a marketers goldmine for yourself.

Commenter

AFL rules

Date and time

May 19, 2014, 4:50PM

Pav goes down in history, only 2 days ago, and Natanui is now the biggest WA AFL story, again. Un-be-lievable!

Commenter

Shaking Eagle

Date and time

May 19, 2014, 3:06PM

Big words from a bigger loser. Recheck Nataspooie that your team can only beat lower teams as all of your team are so full of yourselves but cannot go into a game without the intention of maiming & eliminating the players from the opposing side. Play the game as a game & not as a fight/wrestling match & maybe you will earn more respect & be able to beat much superior teams like Collingwood. Remember: what goes around comes around!!!!!

Commenter

SAY IT AS IT IS

Location

S.W.

Date and time

May 19, 2014, 3:43PM

Surely your position on the ladder reflects who you beat. Guess what the Eagles beat teams below them and generally lost to team above them, Hence they sit precariously on the edge of the top 8 - just a middle-of-the road side. BUT, somehow they are labelled "flat track bullies". Shouldn't the Bulldogs or the Suns be called the same? At this point of the season Port have only beaten sides sitting below them :-D The label is absurd.

Slim

Commenter

Slim Rusty

Location

Switzerland

Date and time

May 20, 2014, 3:39AM

You realise that access to players is only through the clubs right?So if Naitanui is speaking to the media it's because the club has designated him as the player to do so.Darling, or Glass, or anyone else, will only be available when the club decides they'll be available.Same as Pav. He spoke after the game on Saturday and obviously the Dockers decided that's enough.There isn't some grand media conspiracy involved.The clubs control which player speaks to the media, when, where and how.

Commenter

Notanidiot

Date and time

May 20, 2014, 6:13AM

The West Coast midfield has not been able to perform when faced with decent opposition for years now.

Why will this weekend be any different?

Talk of NicNat geting 1 million per year is madness. He is light years away from Buddy Fanklin... Callum Sincliar is probably a better alround player at the moment, particularly given Nicnats fitness issues.

Commenter

Lroy

Date and time

May 20, 2014, 6:46AM

Mic Nat is a champion. His form is down due to niggling injuries and restricted training. Why do people like to bag champs?. Living here in WA I often see what a quality levelheaded person he is. He is a credit to his family, himself and the Eagles. Sadly for the Eagles, unless they can improve quite a bit this current Pies team will sadly likely beat the Eagles easily.

Commenter

Go Blues

Date and time

May 20, 2014, 1:33PM

Nic Nat does seem like a champion bloke with all his community stuff etc etc but people are kidding themselves if they reckon he is a champion footballer. He has great 'potential' as a footballer but he is nowhere near as good a player as a Dean Cox. His stats from this year aren't that much different from when he was given an all Australian gurnsey a few years back, the same year when he didn't even finish in the top 10 players in West Coasts club champion award. I heard Dennis Cometti comment that at the final meeting to decide the all Australian team that there was vigorus debate held over his spot in the team. Was it really deserved? Has his run with injury etc this year affected his form or maybe his form was never really that good. seems like a great bloke, great potential and I do hope he does well, but lets not bandy around the word 'champion' lightly.